Crucial Material – Best Releases Of The Week (September 9th, 2019)

Back at it again with your weekly roundup of unmissable albums and EP’s and reissue projects.

As always we hope you make some nice discoveries and feel free to encourage these artists/labels if you do! Enjoy and have a great week.

NEW ALBUMS & EP’s

Tenesha the Wordsmith “Peacocks & Other Savage Beasts”

Label: On the Corner Records
Buy: Physical / Digital (via Bandcamp)

Sharp & incisive spoken word from the Oakland poet, Tenesha the Wordsmith, matched to the propulsive beats of producer Khalab, drawing on jazz, electronic music and traditional African instrumentation. Tenesha considers identity, culture, trauma, love, and gives a much needed voice to many who lack their own. Serious afro futurist music, reminiscent of the spoken word artists that rose to fame 20+ years ago, but not by any means dated.
– Selected by Oliver Brunetti

Lynda Dawn “At First Light”

Label: Akashik Records
Buy: Physical / Digital (via Bandcamp)

Debut album from UK songstress Lynda Dawn, produced by Al Dobson Jr.. Perfect blend of Soul, RnB and Modern Funk. “Fonk Street” has been on heavy rotation, as well as “Move”, which sampled one of my favorite UK Street Soul jams.
– Selected by Walla P

Gene Tellem “The Inner Dance EP”

Label: Bienvenue Recordings
Buy: Physical / Digital (via Bandcamp)
Genre: House

“Montreal’s own Gene Tellem launches her own label Bienvenue Records with some smooth House!”

Priori “On A Nimbus”

Label: NAFF Recordings
Buy: Physical / Digital (via Bandcamp)
Genre: House / Ambient / Post-Rave-Post-Trance

“A debut album by NAFF co-founder Priori. A trip to the heart of the network…frenetic and weightless, bleepy and essentially naff at its core.”

M.E.S.H “Hart… Aber Fair!”

Label: Janus Berlin
Buy: Physical / Digital (via Bandcamp)
Genre: Beats / Techno / Experimental / EBM

“M.E.S.H. metes out a meticulous mix of hard-ass, mutant club rhythms and drama in his killer new EP for Berlin’s Janus”

K15 & Patrick Gibin “Devotion”

Label: Eglo
Buy: Physical (via SOTU)

“K15 returns to the mighty Eglo stable, enlisting the help of Patrick Gibin, serving up some soul stirring broken beat, and a remix of Javonttee’s ‘Cloud 9’!”

Simbad presents Collections Volume One EP

Label: BBE Records
Buy: Physical / Digital (via Bandcamp)

“Conscious house, broken beat and downtempo vibes from Simbad featuring guest spots from the likes of Steve Spacek, Byron The Aquarius and more!”

Alchemist “Yacht Rock 2”

Label: ALC
Stream: Spotify

This Alchemist album is a smooth sailing ride with all the usual suspects on board. including Action Bronson, Conway and Benny the Butcher. Alc has made turning breezy samples into grimey seascapes for impactful rappers into an artform and this is his latest accomplishment. A great cohesive listen from start to finish.
– Selected by ASMA

Marc Clennon “Passion”

Label: Bonsound
Stream: Spotify

This colourful and intimate EP from future soul Toronto artist Mark Clennon reveals glimpses of inner breaches exposed under the light of producers Rainer+Grimm and Joey Sherret (Posterz), Honesty and a singular voice make Passion a dense yet lighthearted project that is truly worth exploring.
– Selected by ASMA

REISSUES, COMPILATIONS & ARCHIVAL

Various “Esa Presents Amandla: Music For The People”

Label: Soundway Records
Buy: Physical / Digital (via Bandcamp)
Stream: Spotiy

Compiled by producer, DJ, educator, and Cape Town native Esa Williams, Soundway Records’ newest compilation release features a brilliant complementary mix of South African house, Brazilian zouk, Tanzanian fusion, and Afro-futuristic electronic grooves. The recording features ten uptempo tropical dancefloor gems, including songs by Penny Penny, Ze Spirits Band, Mim Suleiman, Esa himself, and more!
– Selected by TJ Gorton

Various “J Jazz: Deep Modern Jazz From Japan 1969-83 Vol. 2”

Label: BBE Records
Buy: Physical / Digital (via Bandcamp)
Stream: Spotify

London’s BBE Records follows up last year’s brilliant J Jazz: Deep Modern Jazz From Japan, 1969-84 compilation with a second volume featuring fourteen additional rare jazz selections out of the Far East. Co-compiled by notable Japanese jazz vinyl collectors Tony Higgins and Mike Peden, the compilation touches upon a wide range of styles, ranging from spiritual jazz to post-bop burners, electric fusion-era groovers, and cinematic big band recordings.
– Selected by TJ Gorton

Various “Alefa Madagascar”

Label: Strut Records
Buy: Physical / Digital (via Bandcamp)

“The first compilation to document the unique culture of salegy, soukous and soul on the island during the ‘70s and ‘80s.” As essential compilation of music destined to uplift tropically-inclined dancefloors, headphone commutes and late summer early autumn evenings.
– Selected by Oliver Brunetti

Grup Doguş “Grup Doguş”

Label: Ironhand
Buy: Physical / Digital (via Bandcamp)

Beautiful Turkish psych. The Anadolu Pop repertoire receives a raw, unproduced treatment from this tight 4-piece. Featuring long guitar and hammond solos, haunting vocals and a jazzy rhythm section. Essential for fans of Khruangbin, Kit Sebastian, Altin Gün, etc who want to go a bit deeper.
– Selected by Oliver Brunetti

Stirling March “Under Cover Lover”

Label: Kalita Records
Buy: Physical / Digital (via Bandcamp)
Genre: Carribean / Boogie

“Kalita are happy to announce the first ever re-release of Stirling March’s 1985 Bahamian boogie grail ‘Under Cover Lover’. With original copies painfully hard to find and commanding eye-wateringly high prices, we believe the time is ripe to share this masterpiece with the world once more, accompanied by never-before-seen photos and interview-based liner notes.”